Travel Guide to Paris, France

I just got back a week ago from a surprise weekend in Paris! Hubby did an amazing job planning and keeping it a surprise. I was super excited to share one of my favorite cities in the world with him and Baby Veer! We did a combination of eating, sight seeing and shopping. We kept things light and go with the flow since we had already been back in 2019. You can check out that blog post HERE.

Getting there

We took a direct flight out of Philadelphia to Paris. We took a red eye which was perfect for the baby and it would get us into Paris around noon. Prior to boarding the flight we ate and had Baby Veer run around to tire him out, needless to say he was super excited on the flight so getting him to sleep was indeed challenging. But once he fell asleep he was out until we pretty much landed! Coming back to the States we had a daytime flight, however, we had a row of three so that helped. Make sure to bring plenty of snacks, toys and an ipad to keep the little one occupied!

Where to Stay

Paris is divided into a total of 20 arrondissements starting from the center and going outward. Last time we went to Paris we stayed in the 6th arrondissement which is Saint German at the cutest boutique hotel called Hotel Madison. This time we stayed in the 8th arrondissement which is Champs-Elysees at Sofitel Le Scribe. The hotel was actually perfect as it was walkable to most places, plenty of high end shopping and restaurants nearby. The hotel also had a beautiful lobby, a cafe, restaurant and bar. The room for Paris standards was large and was perfect for the three of us.

What to See and Do

Outfit:
Top: ASOS / Blazer: JustFab (Similar) / Jeans: JCrew
Shoes: Cole Haan / Purse: Saint Laurent

Eiffel Tower
Seine River Cruise
Louvre
Musee D’Orsay
Notre Dame
Sainte-Chapelle
Versailles
Arc de Triomphe
Tuileries Garden

One piece of valuable advice I have for any of these places that you need a ticket to get into (i.e. Eiffel Tower, Louvre, etc.) book your ticket ahead of time. The queue for some of these places is insane and it’s always best to book ahead.

Top Places to Eat

Au Pied de Cochan
Balagan
Cafe de Flore
Cafe de l’Homme
Cafe Marly
Cafe Cassette
Cedric Grolet Opera
Chez Julien
Chez Le Libanais
Ferdi
Girafe
Gigi
Hotel Costes
L’Avenue
La Bourse et La Vie
La Fontaine De Mars
L’as Du Fallafel
Le Cinq (at the Four Seasons)
L’Arpege (Vegetarian - one of the World’s Best Restaurants)
Lou Lou
Pink Mamma
Thierry Marx (at the Mandarin Hotel)
Laduree (Macarons)
Pierre Hermes (Macarons)

All of the cafes were wonderful! For breakfast we kept things super simple with a croissant and espresso’s (I’m still dreaming about those wonderful, buttery croissant’s… yummm). Lunch was casual as well since we were usually on the move. Dinnertime we made nightly reservations and some of the views at the restaurants (i.e. Girafe and Gigi are AMAZING!).

Shopping

The best shopping for luxury items is in the Champs Elysées. Any and every high end store you can think of is there! My number one tip for getting into Hermes, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Goyard, Dior, Van Cleef, Cartier, etc. is to get there EARLY since a lot of the designers have their flagship stores in Paris. In all honesty, it is hard to find inventory so don’t go to Paris just to shop. Things are even harder with the Dollar and Euro being pretty much the same and everyone is traveling to Europe. All in all, we still had a good shopping experience.

 Another important thing, if you do purchase any luxury items, notify the sales person that you would like to collect the VAT tax. They will then take a copy of your passport and give you a receipt (sometimes the sales person will just do all the paperwork which is what happened at Chanel). Once you get to the airport you need to locate the kiosk to scan your receipts (sometimes they do need to see your actual purchases) and once you come back to the United States you need to declare all goods at customs.

Overall

Paris is such a magical city.
I had such an amazing time and can’t wait to someday go back!

Secrets Wild Orchid in Montego Bay Jamaica Resort Review

Outfit: Coverup: LSpace / Swimsuit: Beach Riot
Tote: H&M / Sandals: Tory Burch

For my husband’s birthday we decided to do something a little different and take a friends weekend getaway to Montego Bay, Jamaica. We decided on Secrets Wild Orchid in Montego Bay, Jamaica due to the adults only, as well as, location and the Secrets brand.

GETTING THERE

Getting to Montego Bay, Jamaica from Philadelphia was fairly easy. We took a flight from Philadelphia and it was about 4 hours nonstop. It was quick and easy which is something we always look for when planning a quick weekend get away. We booked a car service through Byron Jamaica Tour and it was very quick getting to and from the resort.

THE RESORT

Secrets Wild Orchid is one of three connecting properties. There is also Secret St James and Breathless. Certain amenities are located on each property. For instance, the restaurants are all on the Secrets Wild Orchid side and the spa/gym are on the Secrets St James side.

Upon arrival we were greeted with a glass of champagne. The lobby was underwhelming… I thought to myself “this is it?” Not grand in any sort of way like other resorts we’ve been too. Check in was straightforward and we reminded the individual checking us in about my husband’s birthday as well as his birthday dinner reservation for our group at the hibachi restaurant. Our room was available at the check in time so while we waited we had lunch out by the pool.

I was pleasantly surprised with the room. The room was pretty large even for a standard room. I loved the large bathroom, the double sinks and jacuzzi tub. The bed was really cozy and comfortable. We had a nice sitting area inside the room and also outside (as well as a pretty view).

ENTERTAINMENT / WHAT TO DO

During the day we spent the majority of our time at the pool as the beach wasn’t equipped for swimming conditions (there were jellyfish). We spent alot of time by the main pool area and the swim up pool bar. As compared to other Secrets properties we have been to the entertainment during the day was underwhelming as well. We saw some entertainment happening by the pool Thursday, as well as Friday, but nothing Saturday. The issue is that entertainment team at Secret brings their guests next door to the Breathless pool. Which, in my mind, you shouldn’t make your guests pick up and move to another resort for the pool parties and entertainment. I did not like that aspect at all. Luckily the guys had brought speakers so we blasted our own music at the pool.

Outfit: Swimsuit: Beach Riot / Coverup: Beach Riot

As far as nightly entertainment went, the resort did do a good job. To see what’s on each night, there are a number of built-in boards throughout the resort. We really liked the silent disco, however, we wished there were enough head sets for everyone to enjoy the event.

secrets-wild-orchid-montego-bay-jamaica-travel-review-couples-adults-only-vacation

Outfit: Maxi Dress / Sandals: Steve Madden

FOOD & RESTAURANTS

The drinks were spot on and one thing you can expect with Secrets is the good quality of alcohol that is included (gray goose, johnny walker, etc.). The drink service around the pool and the bars were all great.

During the daytime, there was a place near the beach/pool area to grab good food such as jerk chicken/beef patties, burgers, nachos, etc. This all inclusive resort probably had the best food of any all inclusive resort I’ve ever been to. The jerk chicken cart was the BEST. It was so amazing and you knew the cart was coming when you would see people getting up and leave and then coming back with plates. The cart was also out in the evenings too so great for munchies after those post evening events!

We dined at the following restaurants:

WORLD CAFE - Standard buffet but good
BLUE MOUNTAIN - Jamaican Caribbean Cuisine
HIMITSU - Hibachi (Need reservations but fun!)
PORTOFINO - Italian (Had the most amazing lasagna)

Luckily, getting a reservation wasn’t too hard with our large group. We would put down our name at the restaurant, grab a buzzer and head to the piano bar for a cocktail while we waited for our reservation.

I also liked that during the day the resort had a place to grab coffee and small snacks (pastries, small sandwiches, fruits, etc.) called Coco Cafe. There was also a 24 hour room service menu available. The service was a little slow, but the food was decent.

OVERALL

Overall, I’m glad we got to spend a few days on vacation relaxing with friends. I probably wouldn’t return to this specific Secrets resort but we still had a good time with our close friends. Lastly, pandemic protocols were also followed and everything was VERY clean so that was very reassuring!

Valentine's Day Outfit Ideas and Inspiration

Top: Club Monaco (Old) / Jeans: 7 For All Mankind
Shoes: JustFab / Purse: Chanel

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and I wanted to share a few looks that would be perfect. Whether you’re spending Valentine’s Day with your significant other at home or out, with the girls or with your family - there’s an outfit for every occasion!

Valentine’s Day at Home

If you are planning on spending Valentine’s Day at home, my favorite go to are cute lounge sets. What better than to be both cozy and cute at home in the comfort of your home?!

SHOP THE LOOK

Valentine’s Day Date Night

I absolutely love getting dressed up to go out to dinner and drinks. Some of my favorite clothing ideas for a date night are cute tops like this blouse with feather cuff or a bodysuit paired with jeans. Complete this look with heels, a bag and a coat and you’re ready to go! Some of my favorite date night spots in Philadelphia are Four Seasons, Del Frisco’s, Suraya, Alpen Rose and Parc.

SHOP THE LOOK

Valentine’s Day with The Girls

There’s just something so much fun about having a night out with your girls. Throw on your favorite dress and have a fun night out! Places like the W, Attico and Stratus Lounge in Philadelphia are a great option for a fun night out and dancing to music!

SHOP THE LOOK

Boho Wild ONE First Birthday Party

My Outfit - Misa Los Angels (Sold out - Similar)

Baby Veer’s Outfit - Dress Shirt: Ralph Lauren / Cardigan: Ralph Lauren
Jeans: Ralph Lauren / Shoes: Nike

Happy First Birthday to my greatest joy in life. This past year has been one of the fastest in my life and I wish time would slow down. Each day has brought something new and exciting. To Veer, I love you very much and I am honored to be your mother. You always light up the room with your smile and bring us much joy. You make us complete in a way I could never have imagined.

We celebrated Veer’s first birthday with a Boho Wild ONE birthday celebration in Peoria, Arizona at my in-laws home. The mix of animal patterns and pretty textures while still keeping the theme fun yet elegant was what I had imagined. I am so happy with how everything turned out!

Vendors:

Cake & Cookies: The Baking Momma

Decor: AZEVENTS_BYMARIE

Facepainting: Got You Covered Entertainment

Food: OM Indian Bistro

Photography: Snappr

Table Decor: Amazon

Tables, Chairs & Linens: Party Rentals Arizona

Welcome Sign: Etsy

Top 10 Holiday Must-Do's in Philadelphia 2021

Cardigan: L'Academie / Faux Leather Leggings: Spanx
Headband: Old (Similar) / Bag: Chanel / Boots: Sam Edelman (Similar)

There are so many fun holiday attractions for all ages in Philadelphia during the holidays. This year the holiday season is back in Philadelphia and better than ever before!

Below is a roundup of my Top 10 Holiday Must-Do’s in Philadelphia for 2021:

1. Head over to Dilworth Park to visit the Christmas Tree, stroll through the Wintergarden on the Greenfield Lawn, ice skate at the Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink, try a variety of yummy foods, visit the Rothman Orthopedics Cabin, stroll through the Holiday Market and ride on the Carousel and Ferris Wheel

2. Visit Macy’s on 1300 Market Street for the iconic Christmas Light Show and Dickens’ Village

3. Buy a ticket to see the Philadelphia Ballet’s The Nutcracker

4. Visit one of Philadelphia’s favorite traditions Blue Cross Riverrink Winterfest

5. Take your kids to the dazzling winter wonderland at the LumiNature at the Phladelphia Zoo

6. Visit the Winter in Franklin Square

7. See a variety of performances at the Kimmel Center

8. Visit Comcast to see the outside show, as well as, the Universal Sphere (advance reservation required)

9. Drive to South Philly to see an old tradition, Miracle on South 13th Street, which brings neighbors together with holiday lighting and extravagant decorations

10. Take a stroll through the Festival of Lights on Boathouse Row

    Which Philadelphia holiday experiences are you looking forward to?