Paris, Je t'aime

Paris Eiffel Tower

Red leather Moschino gloves

Balenciaga Classic city bag

Eiffel Tower, Paris

Coat, J. Crew//Skirt, Zara//Scarf, Nordstrom//Hat, J. Crew//Boots, Topshop//Gloves, Moschino//Bag, Balenciaga City Bag

When visiting Paris, it is a blogger-must to take outfit pictures featuring the iconic Eiffel Tower. Many of my favorite bloggers, like Gary Pepper, have amazing pictures next to the tower, so I've always wanted to have a little photo shoot of my own in a similar fashion. I am so happy with how the pictures turned out. Although it was a gloomy day, with scattered showers, the blurred outline of the Eiffel tower in the background looks beautiful. And I think it worked out because my outfit itself is a plethora of gray and black. 

These pictures were taken on New Year's Eve of 2013. The last day of the year was spent eating crepes from the Christmas market on Champs-Elysees, lunching at Cafe de Flore (a cafe maybe as iconic as the Eiffel tower), exploring the streets of St. Germain de Pres, eye-shopping on Rue Cambon, attending mass at Sacre Coeur, and finally counting down to welcome the new year by the flashing lights on the Eiffel tower. Pretty much the perfect day, if you ask me. 

This was my second time visiting Paris. The last time I went there was before middle school, and now that I'm in college, the experience in the city was like new. I could enjoy a glass of wine with my foie gras and I appreciated the history behind the monuments and museums so much more. I wonder when I will visit this beautiful city again, what I will doing at that time, who I will be with, and where I will go. Although I like to think that I know how life will plan out, the truth is that I don't. There are so many things in life that can happen that are out of my control. Kind of scary, but maybe that mystery is why we wake up every morning and work hard each day in order to secure a better tomorrow. Well, before I get in a philosophical nonsense rant mode, here are my 2014 new year's resolutions. Or, things that I can put under my control to become better and happier: 

- Have a monthly cash limit, and minimize debit card spendings

- Pray regularly

- Approach people I want to talk to. (People are all just people at the end of the day, no need to be too intimidated.)

- Be mindful, not obsessive, over what others think of me

- Cut out the cookies from the school cafeteria (they are 600 calories each... yikes!)

- Replace one meal with a salad

- Stick to my list of blog goals 

I make resolutions and goals every year, and even though I don't fulfill all of them, I think the whole concept of at least putting an effort to bettering yourself each year is important. Something I always tell myself when I feel lazy is, "If you don't do it for yourself, who will?" It's sort of a debby-downer quote in a way, but it's true.

Be your own best friend and hero!

xo, Dahye

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PARIS VLOG + PICTURES

Eiffel Tower lit up at night

Prosciutto salad and baguette

Thought this window filled with plant pots was just adorable.

Chanel's original store on 31 Rue Cambon, Paris

Chanel, 31 Rue Cambon, Paris 

Macarons from Pierre Herme! My favorite was the foie gras.. such a funny flavor for a sweet treat, but it was good!

The amazing Christmas tree inside Galeries Lafayette!

The view from the fourth floor in Galeries Lafayette

Cathedral Sacre Coeur

Amazing dome ceiling inside Sacre Coeur

Eiffel tower and the Seine River... this is currently my screesaver. <3

My older sister, Jeehye, workin' it. 

Cafe de Flore in Paris. Your life will change after drinking their hot chocolate.

Striking a pose at the Karl Lagerfeld store. Fell in love with the bobble head of Karl and Choupette!

Love Lock bridge in Paris. Pont de l'Archevêché

Pont de l'Archevêché, it is FILLED with locks!

Notredame de Paris at night.  

Another shot of the Eiffel Tower. It is the prettiest at night. 

They say that Paris is the perfect city to fall in love, but I have to add that it is also the perfect city to fall in love with. The history, the sights, the food, and Parisians themselves are amazing. This was my second visit to this city, the last time being when I was in middle school. So of course, now that I'm in college, exploring Paris for the second time felt like a whole new experience. I think we were so lucky to have been able to travel here during the holidays because all of the Christmas lights and markets made the city such a magical place. And to top it all off, my family and I rang in the new year with a view of the sparkling Eiffel Tower at midnight. Again, it was simply magical!

Hope you guys like the pictures and video. I couldn't wait until I could share these moments with you all. :)

On another note, I'm sure you have noticed a few changes on my blog. Well, not a few actually... I got a whole blog design renovation!!! After using the simple ready-made Blogger template for two years, I thought it was time for a change. (New year, new blog design) I absolutely love the simplicity and ease of navigation of this template. It was done by the amazing Natalie from Revel and Design. Check her site out here: www.revelanddesign.com

I would love to hear any feedback on the new look!

xo, Dahye

A Day at Chateau Versailles

Jacket, Zara//Sweater, Gap//Skirt, miumiu//boots, Topshop//purse, J. Crew

It is through traveling that I gain inspiration and a widened view on the world. I was so lucky to have spent the last week of 2013 in Europe. My family and I traveled to Germany, Belgium, France, and finally, Amsterdam. Not only was it an amazing vacation, but it also felt like a learning experience through taking in beautiful sights, meeting different people, and tasting all sorts of new foods. From dusk to dawn, we wasted no time in Europe by exploring each city in the way I think is best when it comes to traveling: walking non-stop, scouring for the best hole-in-the-wall eats, with a map and camera in each hand. That isn't to say that there weren't any bumps on the road... I lost my phone, my dad lost his wallet, and my sister also lost her wallet. (We definitely learned our lesson to beware of pickpockets!) But my sister actually found her wallet in a trash can soon after; it was really a miracle!! Even though it's annoying to lose your items, they can be replaced. However, the memories and experiences from traveling is much more valuable and irreplaceable. I tried to capture those moments to the best of my ability through my camera, and I think I did a pretty good job considering I filled up 24 gigabytes on my memory card! 

The first outfit post above was taken at the Palace of Versailles, the grand residence built by Louis XIV. It is hard not to "Oouuuu" and "Ahhhh" when walking through this chateau. The entire place is covered in luxurious wallpaper and heavy curtains, with furniture that are simply too pretty to sit on. My favorite part of this palace was the infamous Hall of Mirrors. The crystal chandeliers sparkle beautifully from the sunlight pouring in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, which then reflect off the mirrors on the opposing wall, to create an amazing mirage of golden light throughout the entire hall. From the windows, you have a great view of the perfectly trimmed gardens and lofty fountains. It truly is a place fit for a king. 

Now that I am back home, and still have a week left of winter break, I am having so much fun editing pictures and video clips I took. Here is a visual: me with my glasses and fuzzy socks on, in bed, with my macbook propped on my lap. It's honestly the most relaxing thing ever. I am making a whole separate video of Versailles from my Paris vlog, because the footage is way too beautiful not to share!  I'm super excited to share more soon!

Happy New Year everybody, let's make 2014 the best year yet. (C'mon, I know you like my cheesy endings.)

xo, Dahye

p.s. Hope everybody is staying warm during the "polar vortex" in North American! Such a funny name... it sounds like some Gatorade flavor, don't you think?

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