bon voyage!

{airplane picnic found here}

we're off to paris!

wishing you and yours a very merry christmas and the happiest new year!

how to pack like a french woman

{image via the experience parisienne}

we are leaving for paris in just a few short days and i haven't even thought about packing. i was starting to panic, so i looked to the lovely joanna and the experience parisienne for some helpful tips. any other suggestions on what i should bring? it is going to be pretty chilly!

*i have also been practicing my messy french bun. tres chic.

katy's guide to paris

{images via little brown pen, found here and here}

A dear family friend of ours was lucky enough to live in Paris {jealous} while she was in college. She sent me this fantastic guide the last time I was there in the summer of 2005. Sadly, I only got to spend a few days in Paris {I was doing a very short study abroad in Austria} and we didn't get to do anything on her list. This time Kiwi and I are definitely going to check out some of her amazing suggestions!

GOING OUT:

Buddha Bar - the original, it is on the rue d'Anglais, right by the U.S. Embassy. Fun to say that you've been there, but the rest of the places that I'll talk about are better, in my opinion. Buddha Bar has become really touristy.

Man Ray - THIS is a fabulous place. It is on rue Marboeuf, right off the Champs Elysees. Owned by John Malkovich and Johnny Depp. Really fun, and lots of models/famous people go there. I think that they have food early, but I've never been there for that. Drinks and dancing later.

Poona Lounge - Just down the street (further off the Champs) from Man Ray, this is a very laid back place that is very swanky at the same time. Drinks - I don't think that they have anywhere to dance.

Chez Georges - Completely different from the ones above. This is in the Latin Quarter between Saint Germain and the Seine and is underground in some caves that have been there for centuries. Super small, hole-in-the-wall type place, but ultra French. Has the drippy candles on tables in one cave, jazz and dancing with the locals in the adjoining cave. I can't remember the street name, and I'm at work, but you may be able to look it up? If you can't find it, Caveau de la Huchette is a very similar experience and is very popular (and I think actually may be pretty close to Chez Georges). It is on rue de la Huchette.

Alcazar - fabulous restaurant, and has a great bar upstairs. On Rue Mazarine. Right next door is WAGG, which is formerly known as Whisky A Go Go, where Jim Morrison had his last night out. Pretty fun place too.

All over the city there are fabulous bars that you can just sit out on the sidewalk - more low key but still very fun.

MUSEUMS

All of the museums are fairly well-known. My favorite is the Musee Rodin, on the Left Bank. No one ever goes there and it has amazing sculptures and grounds. One of my fave places in Paris. My next favorite is the Musee d'Orsay, which is on the left bank right across from the Louvre. And actually, one of my favorites that has been closed for years just opened again the other day - the L'Orangerie, located in the Tuileries very close to the Place de la Concorde. This is where all of Monet's Waterlilies are - whole rooms of them.

GREAT PLACES, JUST IN GENERAL:

My favorite pastries in Paris are at Yamazaki, on Chausee de la Muette in the 16th Arrondissement. It is way out of the way, but to die for.

Somewhere that is just incredible is the Bon Marche, in the 6th Arrondissement. Incredible store, and right next to it is its version of a supermarket - simply incredible, even if you're just going in to look.

If you're up for brunch on Sunday, which is sometimes difficult to squeeze in when travelling but a very local thing to do, you MUST go to Le Fumoir. It is on rue Amiral Coligny, which is the street that runs just east of the Louvre (towards Notre Dame and the Hotel d'Ville). It is the most amazing brunch ever, with bloody marys and champagne.

My favorite area to shop is in the 6th Arrondissement, right around the Bon Marche and east of there. I'm not such a fan of the shopping on the Champs Elysses, but that is kind of a thing that everyone needs to do at one point or another.

*Katy, thank you for the phenomenal tips. We will think of you while we are in Paris. If anyone else has suggestions on where to go or what to do we'd love to hear them!

paris here we come!

{images via haven in paris}

kiwi and i finally booked our honeymoon and we are leaving next week! we are staying in this fabulous apartment from haven in paris and could not be more excited. i am most looking forward to...

1. walks along the seine

2. cozy cafes

3. getting lost in the rooms of the louvre

4. having the love of my life all to myself for two weeks

*christmas in paris, is there anything more romantic?

i think not.

i {also} heart disposable cameras

especially when they print out little mustaches and hearts on your photos. i am totally taking one of these on our honeymoon.

(lol disposable camera from urban outfitters)

i heart terrariums

i recently purchased this sweet little air plant and these tiny terrariums, fully intending to give them as christmas gifts. would it be so terrible if i kept them for myself? seriously, have you ever seen more adorable houseplants?

*go check out tortoise loves donkey, immediately. i wanted to buy everything in the shop.

the buried life

what do you want to do before you die?

*i want to travel to all seven continents... i've only got australia and antarctica left to go! who's coming with me?

wedding polaroids

just a few snippets from our wedding. i love that handsome husband of mine more and more everyday.

(all photos by my sweet friend miss kathryn butler, taken with this amazing little camera)

sweet november

for each new morning with its light,
for rest and shelter of the night,
for health and food, for love and friends,
for everything thy goodness sends.
-ralph waldo emerson

thanksgiving was wonderful. november, i heart you.

(all photos by yours truly)

happy {early} thanksgiving!

happy {early} thanksgiving! kiwi and i are heading up north to spend some time with my family at the cabin. i am looking forward to reading books, drinking wine and playing board games. i am going to attempt to make this as my contribution to the thanksgiving table. we'll see how it goes.

*did you see nie nie on the today show? that family never fails to inspire me... a little reminder of all that i have to be thankful for.

(photos via gourmet...i'm printing recipes like a mad woman before the site gets taken down)

confession...

soooo i saw this movie over the weekend. am i proud of it? no, but i will admit that i {secretly} enjoyed it. more than anything it gave me the overwhelming urge to layer, layer, layer. i'm pretty much ready to pack up and move to the pacific northwest. the desert is finally starting to cool down and i can't wait to start shopping for winter coats and cardigans.

*j. crew you may not be edgy, but you certainly look cozy.

it's friday, i'm in love

(image via the lovely jen gotch, lyrics via the cure)

"monday you can hold your head

tuesday wednesday stay in bed

or thursday watch the walls instead

it's friday i'm in love."

happy happy weekend.

the taste of fall

i've been feeling a bit under the weather lately... all the wedding excitement/ activities/ visitors have left me totally worn out. all i want to do is snuggle up on the couch with kiwi and a bowl of this amazing butternut squash soup. mmmm.

(recipe and photo via 101 cookbooks)

happily ever after

the wedding was amazing... everything we could have ever dreamed of and more. kiwi and i are so lucky to have such wonderful family and friends. i can't wait to share the details... the mountains, mexican food, photo booth, sangria and breakdancing, just to name a few. but for now, we are loving married life.

the first day of forever

today i am marrying my best friend and the love of my life.

capturing the look of love

i got the chance to chat with our adorable wedding photographer yesterday... and i have to say, talking with her for just a few minutes made me ridiculously excited for our wedding day! these are a few of my personal favorites from her amazingly talented portfolio.

*not only is she one of the sweetest girls alive, her photos are out of this world. check her out here and here. go now. you won't be disappointed.

just desserts

in lieu of a multi level, fondant covered, behemoth of a wedding cake... kiwi and i are going with a sweet little bundt cake and lemon bars for the guests.

*i am really hoping kiwi doesn't try to shove cake in my face. keep your fingers crossed!

(image via my beloved gourmet, i am so sad to see you go)

happy halloween

happy halloween! with all the wedding craziness we didn't get to do much celebrating. but mark my words, next year there will be pumpkin carving, and lots of it.

*there may even be owl pumpkins, but that might be pushing it.

(image via the holiday diva, miss martha)

time is ticking...

image via sabino

i'm gearing up for the final weekend of wedding preparations! after three tests and a presentation looming on monday all i want to do is curl up in bed and sleep. luckily, i've got a pretty amazing support team. i'm pretty sure without my amazing friends i would have given up on wedding planning a long time ago. t-minus eight days!

"There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature."

-Jane Austen

it's official

we are the proud owners of one bona fide marriage license. i suppose this means we are pretty official. for some reason i got really giggly when they asked us to raise our right hands and read the affidavit. kiwi answered with a solemn i do and i went with a nervous yes and turned bright red.

*i'm going to be a mess during the vows. just warning you.

(image via siete camelias)

i went in for wedding shoes...

and ended up buying these beauties instead... can you blame a girl?

*the wedding is less than two weeks away. really must focus.

better to give than receive

i'm working on a little wedding gift for kiwi... i want him to have something special to commemorate the big day. there is nothing better than planning a surprise for someone you love.

*check out this amazing bride's gift for some major gift giving inspiration.

(via simple lovely)

it's not a party without punch

i just picked up these beautiful beverage jars from sur la table. i am planning on making some delicious sangria for the wedding. does anyone know a good recipe? please share!

(images via you are my fave, my current blog crush)

wedding envy

pretty much loving everything about this wedding... the light, the flowers, the signs. don't even get me started on the welcome beers in baskets. not surprisingly, it was shot by the infamous max wanger. laid back elegance? yes, please.

*kiwi asked me if i'll ever get sick of looking at wedding photos. answer, no.

(images via duet weddings)