How to Achieve Your Goals

We all know that reaching our goals can sometimes be very challenging but we can definitely accomplish them with some dedication and effort! The reasoning behind having goals, at least to me, is that they give you something to work towards in order to improve yourself or an aspect of your life and I feel that goals are very important. As I too struggle with always staying on track win regards to  my goals I decided to share some tips for sticking to and achieving your goals and resolutions!

This post actually kind of coincides with my previous post about having a productive summer (which you can check out here if you'd like to). I guess that at the beginning of a new season,  (similar to the beginning of a new year in January) I, like many other people focus more on changing habits and becoming a bettering version of myself -or at least trying to lol! Goals are a great way to do that and to be productive.  Sometimes we start out very strong in regards to accomplishing our goals but then lose motivation. Other times something else gets in the way and interferes or our focus shifts from the goals, making it very hard to reach them. As mentioned, I have complied a list of some things that you can do in order to make it easier to keep on track of and reach your goals!

Write them down

In my opinion this is one of the most helpful things someone can do in order to stay on top of one's goals. If  you write them down it feels more "official" and if you've documented them it will be harder to forget what you intended to work towards. It feels as though you are more dedicated to them and I like the fact that you can check them off, the same way you can "cross things off you to-do list". Having them written down will also allow you to look back after a while and assess yourself and see what you've done and  achieved. 

Set sub goals
 
Sometimes a goal that you have and really want to achieve may seem intimidating at first or you may be unsure of how to go about starting to accomplish it. Instead of just jumping in and to avoid "biting off more than you can chew" you can break the goal down into smaller ones to make the overall goal more manageable.

      For example if one of the goals you have is to be healthier or more fit it would make sense to        come up with different "sub-goals" that you can accomplish in order to become healthier such as having a goal to drink 1500 ml of water a day or to do a certain number of steps a day. Once you reach those you can increase the amounts gradually (up to the number you want) and you'll start being in better shape. As I mentioned, this will make the task of getting fitter less daunting and more manageable.

It will be easier to go about achieving large or long term goals this way and you will feel good about the progress you are making as you accomplish the "sub-goals" leading to the desired end result. 

Share your goals
 
What I mean by this is to let others know what your goals are. By "share" I don't mean to say that someone else needs to have the same goal or goals as you, although that can be helpful since it would allow you to work on them together. Regardless of whether or not any of your friends or family have the same goals as you, or you have only just told them what yours are, having them know will help you stay more accountable. It may also motivate you to keep going and stay on track and they may also help remind you to work on your goals. It's very beneficial to have support whenever you are working towards accomplishing something!

Make a "schedule"

By making a schedule I am talking about having at least a basic time frame of when you want to have certain goals or aspects of goals completed by. If you choose a certain day to have a certain amount of something done by you will be able to check in on the progress you've been making. "Deadlines" can be helpful since it makes you feel as though you have more of a responsibility to do something even if it is just self induced. The "pressure" to finish in time can cause you to put in more effort and achieve your goals faster.

Have an inspiration board

This is a great way to have a visual display of your goals and what you are working towards! You can make a collage or put a poster in your room that has pictures and/or words relating to your goals and include things that inspire you (it's like a real-life Pinterest board 😄). Making an inspiration board can be a very fun project since you can design it any way you like and it can be a good way for you to get more excited about working on and achieving your goals! It's a great form of a reminder to have on your wall and can potentially provide motivation when you look at it (and it can also serve as cute room décor)!

Reward yourself

I think that it's important to recognize what you've done and be proud of milestones along the way to the finish line. So, rewarding yourself after you've met "deadlines" you've set for yourself and when you've made a lot of good progress is a good practice. Allowing yourself to buy, eat, or purchase something (or whatever you choose your reward to be) can be an extra incentive for working toward your goals. Although, completing the goal is the greatest reward in itself since you'll feel so good about accomplishing it! Rewarding yourself after passing milestones on your way to achieving your goals can be helpful but remember to keep your eye on the end prize of completing the goal in it's entirety, don't just think about these small rewards.

Don't compare

It can be hard not to compare yourself to someone else who has achieved some of the things you are trying to accomplish, especially in today's day and age where everyone shares everything on social media, it's easy to become envious of others since people's lives may constantly be put in front of your face. But try to keep in mind that everyone is on their own journey and may have had a different starting point. You don't want to get discouraged because you see someone who has done more than you. Feeling bad about the progress you've made because someone else is closer to the end result than you are can decrease your motivation. If you start feeling like it's no longer worth it to work toward your goal because you feel like you'll never get there you may end up convincing yourself to stop and that is definitely not what we want to happen!

Try not to compare yourself to others, it may sound funny but only compare yourself to yourself. Try to be a better person than you were the day before, self reflection is important. Goals are all about self improvement for your life and the lives of those around you. Focusing on yourself (not in a negative/selfish way) is so important for growth and doing what you need to in order to be happy. And keep in mind what you'll gain from completing your goals: you will increase your confidence, be proud of yourself for accomplishing what you set your mind to, you may end up having more energy, gain knowledge, and skills! (It does depend on what your goals are though but I'm sure your results will at least include some of the things I just mentioned!)

Some of my goals:

I thought that I'd just include some of my goals in this post as well. My goals vary from short term to long term and some are much more meaningful than others, there are a couple trivial ones- but hey, everyone's entitled to be a little frivolous lol

• My Blog: One of the goals I have for this summer is to work more on my blog and post more often! Let's see how well I do!


• Fitness & Health: I am hoping to get in better shape and build some muscle (I'm so weak 🙈) and I also want to just become more healthy in general, such as by eating better and getting in to a routine for working out


• Reading: When I was younger I absolutely loved reading and I would read every night. Once I got into high school and definitely in college, I had so little time that I never really read any novels for fun (as in reading for myself and not because I had to for homework). I've missed it and I hope to do a lot of reading this summer!


• Family: Although I am living at home now since my semester ended I still feel as though I don't interact with my family as much as I should or talk enough about meaningful things with them. And it's so easy to just get caught up in watching tv separately in different rooms but, as cheesy as this may sound, I hope that my family and I start having occasional game nights again soon or something. 


• Self: I hope to work on gaining more self confidence and not doubt myself or my abilities as much as I do. I hope that I do more of what I plan rather than just thinking about doing it. And just reminding myself to not just get caught up in what's popular.


• Travel: I love traveling internationally and really want to go to Ireland, Spain, Switzerland, Japan, but these are on my bucket list for the future. This summer I highly doubt that I will be traveling internationally but I'm still keeping a flicker of hope alive in regards to visiting Montreal this summer though! Nonetheless I hope to visit some neighboring states and see different towns in Massachusetts that I haven't been to before or haven't visited in a while such as Gloucester and Newburyport. I also really want to make it down to the Cape at some point, I used to go every summer but haven't been in a few years! 

Reminiscing about Europe, this is a picture I took while visiting Venice this past fall!

Pet: This is another lofty goal, I really want a dog but I know it wouldn't make sense to get one now or in the near future. But it's still on my list and someday it'll happen!

Camera: One of my goals is to learn how to use a DSLR camera to take nice photos, but I do need to get one of them first! lol

Bag: This may seem materialistic but I hope to own a Chanel bag one day. It is one of my favorite brands and I love the person Coco was and a lot of what she stood for. I've read about her and I admire what she was able to do and how she built a life for herself. I definitely recommend checking out "Mademoiselle Chanel: A Novel" by C. W. Gortner, it is not a biography, meaning that the author has taken some liberties to shape his story but it is fairly accurate and a great read!

Art: I am someone who enjoys doing crafts and making things, but as with reading, due to school I hardly have the time. Now that it's summer I hope that I'll be able to start drawing more or painting, just something crafty or doing a couple DIYS. (You may have inferred that because I like drawing and painting that I am good at doing them but sadly no, I don't think that I'm that great at either of them but I still think it's fun and hope to improve!)

Again, these are only some of my goals, I do want to accomplish more in life than what's listed here, these are just a few I thought I'd share.

Thank you so much for reading, I hope that you found this to be at least a little bit helpful! Please feel free to comment down below what some of your goals are, I'd love to hear them!

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How to Have a Productive Summer

Almost everyone looks forward to summer break, trips to the beach, ice cream, no homework (unless like me you're taking a summer course lol), there are so many reasons why summer is great, outdoor movies- I mean the list goes on and on! Although it is extremely important to have fun and be a bit carefree during the summer it is also important to not let it go by in the blink of an eye. It's not a great feeling when the summer seems to suddenly come to an end and you have no idea where it all went or what you even did with those three months! That's where having a productive summer comes in. As I mentioned, fun should be a priority during the summer but you also want to accomplish something so that when it does come to an end you feel like you put the time to good use and that it didn't sweep past you.

I put together a list with some tips for how you can make the most of your summer! (These will definitely come in handy for keeping myself on track too!)

Set Goals

Near the beginning of the summer it is helpful to think about what you want to do in the next few months. Knowing what you want to accomplish is very important and having the goals in mind ahead of time will make it much easier for you to reach them. Setting you goals lets you know exactly what you want to do and should serve as a guide to what you want your summer to consist of. And once the summer comes to an end you can look back at everything you've done!

Plan 

Planning out your summer at least a little bit is very beneficial because it allows you to get a big picture idea of the upcoming months. Even having a very basic plan of a couple things that you want to do or accomplish each month will make it so much easier to achieve them. Either writing it in a planner or putting things in a calendar app will help you keep track of everything and let you get everything done.
 
I personally love writing things down so I don't forget them and I like to be able to look ahead and know what I'm doing the next week. Especially if you want to go on any weekend trips or anything it is so crucial to organize those in advance at least a little bit to get the best deals on hotels, most convenient flight times, etc. Planning will also allow you to make sure that you have the time to do what you want to in general and will prevent you from having conflicting events or commitments.

Inspiration

Knowing what inspires you can a have a large impact on what you get done. Inspiration can provide great motivation and lets you see what you're working towards. It can be a nice reminder of what can be and to not give up. If you don't have a good reason for doing something you definitely won't get as much done as you would if you clearly know why you are working towards the goals you are. (Whether or not a reason is "good" is subjective but by "good reason" I personally mean something reasonable and positive).

For example if one of the goals you are working towards is a fitness one then following personal trainers or others on a fitness journey can provide great inspiration (as long as you try not to compare yourself and remember that everyone is at different levels and stages). Comparison can be an enemy to progress.

Establish a Routine

Having a routine can be a great way to ensure that you reach your goals. Knowing what you have to do and when lets you stay on track and make steady progress. If you establish a routine it'll become easier to do what you need to as you'll get used to it and form habits. Sticking with the fitness example, maybe you decide to start doing certain stretches or moves everyone morning after you've woken up, over time you'll end up automatically doing them and will build strength or flexibility (depending on what you do) and you'll start getting results!

Stay Realistic

It is crucial to be realistic with what you want to achieve and what you expect to accomplish though. You do not want to set yourself up to fail. You need to be aware of what you are capable of. As someone who isn't much of a runner it would not be realistic for me to have the goal of competing in and finishing a marathon that is taking place next month-that isn't realistic and there is no way I'd be able to achieve that. However, I am not saying to not challenge yourself. It is important to make sure that your goals aren't all so easy that you can basically already achieve them, you do need something to work towards. It should just be something that will be possible once you do put in the time and effort.

Balance

This is another significant concept. Although being productive and working on getting to your goals is very important, it is summer so you need to have some free time. Now I don't just mean doing nothing (although there is nothing wrong having some time for that), free time means that you don't have things scheduled so you can determine what you want to do with the time. Balancing the time you spend working on things and the time you take just to relax and have fun is vital to being productive and staying happy. If you are overworked you will not be as content or productive. I find that I work much better and enjoy it more when I'm in a good mood!

I hope that you found this helpful and that we all can have productive summers! Do you have any tips for being productive? Leave them in the comments below!

Thanks for reading!

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The Shoes You Need For Spring!

      Warm weather means spring has arrived! I love spring fashion and wanted to share a few of my favorite spring shoes with you! Ideal spring shoes to me are cute, comfortable, and versatile. Below I have listed five different types of shoes that I feel are perfect for spring.
     I am so excited that we are finally having actual spring weather here in Massachusetts. I hope you are all enjoying spring so far too!

"Cute" Flats

The first type of shoe I will be sharing will you all is a "cute" pair of flats. Cute is in " " because I feel as though it is subjective. My idea of cute may be different than someone else's however there are shoes that a majority of people deem to be cute and that includes lace up flat or flats that tie. I definitely think that these shoes are perfect for spring because they are simple yet the tie part adds some interest and character. And as they are flats they will not cause your feet to get too hot in the warmer weather. They also come in such a variety of colors, texture, and even the placement of the tie can differ. So although they are a popular type of shoe you can still find a pair that is unique and perfect for your style! Mine are actually from Primark!

Similar Lace Up Flats here

Sensible Flats

These are flats that are a bit more sturdy than the first pair. What I mean is that the shoes should not hurt your feet and you should be able to walk around comfortably. The flats above are definitely more fashion than function! There's nothing wrong with that at all ( I mean who doesn't want cute shoes) but there is also a need for functional ones too! I enjoy traveling, going on day trips or into the city and for this I like to wear shoes that are stylish yet comfy. It is important to wear things that are strong and will be able to support your feet. If you are out and about and your feet start hurting that will affect your mood and you probably won't have as good a time (I'm sure this has happened to many of you as it has definitely happened to me before).

Sperry Boat Shoes- on SALE! here

Slip-ons

I think that these shoes are great because they can be very versatile. To me they are basically a mix of a sneaker and a flat. They go with so many types of outfits and can be dressed up or down!  These also come in many varieties, Vans are very popular and Steve Madden makes some great ones too. The classics are made of canvas but they come in other materials as well such as  leather. Also they are very easy and quick to put on.They're perfect for casual or can transition to night wear with some skinny jeans, a nice top and maybe an edgy jacket.

Steve Madden Ecentrcq Slip-ons here

Simple Sandals

Sandals are usually considered summer footwear but they are also great for spring. They can transition your wardrobe and give your outfit a different vibe to fit the weather as it does start to get warmer. For me I think of summer sandals as being more "complicated". Now you might be thinking "Emily, what the heck do you mean by complicated?" So let me explain lol, what I mean is sandals with a lot more details or bright colors, tassels, lots of ties, etc. It is just my personal feeling that those elements seem to be more summery than springy! (You do not have to agree with me at all I just thought I'd share my reasoning). I like these simple buckle ones I found at Marshalls!

I got my sandals a couple seasons ago at Marshalls, I've linked a similar pair here

Sneakers

Sneakers are a given I feel. Spring and warmer weather means more outdoor activities and sneakers come in so handy for this. Not even just talking about hardcore athletic activities. Just taking a quiet walk is so beneficial and sneakers can keep your feet comfy! I really like Converse because they are so simple and classic in design. Adidas are also very popular right now and Nike is another option. Of course there are many other great brands that make sneakers, these are just the ones that I have had the most experience with and personally like the best. 

Converse here

Similar pair of Nikes here

Thanks for reading! What are your favorite spring shoes?
-Emily

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A Day at the MFA

Hi everyone!

        My mom, sister, and  I have been attempting to be tourists in our own city this summer! There are so many things to do and see in and around the Boston area and New England in general. It is a place filled with so much history and culture. So many things have happened here and it is still an area so bustling and full of life. Although Boston can be an expensive city (it is listed in the top 10 of many travel websites as being one of the most expensive in the U.S.) there are a good amount of cheap or even free things to do though so don't worry! Many museums are free at certain times on specific days. There is also a program called Free Fridays which lists when many venues in the city and other parts of Massachusetts have no cost admission.

Here is a link to the site: 
 http://highlandstreet.org/programs/free-fun-fridays

       My mom, sister and I went to the MFA (Museum of Fine Arts)  this past Friday. It is one of my all time
favorite museums. I love that is has such a diverse collection and I love wandering through the exhibit halls and coming across new pieces and paintings. They have things from ancient Egypt and China, pieces from Europe dating back to the Middle Ages, Rembrandt masterpieces, paintings by Monet, contemporary art, and everything in between. They also always have really great feature exhibits such as the recent #techstyle one I was very excited about seeing.

       This exhibit was all about the relationship between fashion and technology. There were some really great concepts behind the pieces and showed a lot of ingenuity. There were 3D printed shoes, a Ralph Lauren purse with a built in charger for electronic devices, a few garments showing off their laser cut details. A jacket with solar panels, a dress from a Victor & Rolf collection that had a frame and could be hung up on the wall as a legitimate piece of art when not being worn, as well as countless other fascinating pieces utilizing technology in new ways.

The dress on the right is the Victor & Rolf one I mentioned

This designer made pieces that could fold up flat. The square on the left unfolds into a dress like the one on the right

This dress was made out of plastic and based off of a slow motion picture of water

There were 1000s of LED lights sewn into this dress which can light up different colors and make different shapes and patterns

       We also visited other galleries. Here are a few pieces I thought were cool, I didn't get to take too many pictures but I thought I'd show you some that I did get to take.

     We spent a good number of hours explore and there's so much more we didn't even get to see. I'm sure I'll be back again. I highly recommend visiting this museum if you have the chance. It is also very easy to get to and has its own stop on the Green Line.

Thanks for reading!
-Emily

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My Favorite Mascaras

         Today I decided to share my current favorite mascaras with you! And it turns out they are both from the same brand. That didn't happen on purpose, I guess I just really like Maybelline mascaras.

         One of the first mascaras I ever owned was a Maybelline Great Lash and I still love it! I have it in Very Black. I find that this mascara really helps to lengthen my lashes and also does a good job separating them. I do not usually like to go for a clumpy look. 
      The wand of this mascara is pretty small and straight. Since it is so small you can get pretty close to your eye and bash of your lashes without having to worry.  I also like my lashes to look "natural". As I have dark brown hair my eyelashes are already dark so if I apply mascara it may not always look like I am wearing it. It may seem like my lashes are already that long. I do always curl my lashes before putting mascara on. My eyelashes are pretty long but sometimes just stick straight out rather than up. Using an eyelash curler solves this "problem" though. I don't wear mascara everyday but if I were to do my "everyday look" than this is the mascara I would be using.
      I really recommend Great Lash if you are looking for a new mascara to try or if you are just starting out with makeup!

        My other favorite is Maybelline's Volum' Express The Falsies Mascara. Now you may be thinking "Emily, the word falsies, as in false eyelashes is in this mascara's name, and didn't you just say you liked your lashes "natural", didn't you just contradict yourself?" and to that I would reply "Yes and no"! Yes, it has the word Falsies in it and this mascara was designed to give you the effect that false lashes does, as in a lot of volume and length. It does a great job of doing so without being overkill. Yes, I like my lashes looking more natural than fake but, (here comes the "no" part)  but no I didn't contradict myself because my lashes can still look "natural" when I wear this. 
        When I apply this mascara  (or any for that matter) I do not glob it on and make it really obvious that I am wearing it. I want to point out though that there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing that though and I don't purposely try to make it seem like my lashes are just that gorgeous without mascara,  I just simply do not like that clumpy and thick, thick lashes look on myself. 
       I love how volumizing this mascara is and that it holds a curl really well. It helps make my lashes curl up nicely. I think that the size and shape of the wand are key  factors in how it makes the lashes so voluminous. The wand is curved and also has bristles at the tip. This makes it easy to apply the mascara to each lash and get pretty close to the base of most of the lashes. And I like using the tip to apply the mascara to my outer lashes especially.  
     It is a mascara you can definitely build it up to make it really look like you are wearing false lashes or to intensify your look. I recommend this mascara as well, especially if you are going for a bolder look and really want volume!

Thanks for reading!

-Emily

Do you have any favorite mascaras? Let me know in the comments section!

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Tips for Clearer Skin

Hi guys, I hope your day has gone well so far. I thought that I would talk about some ways to work on clearing up your skin. I am a young adult so I do have to deal with acne and pimples as I'm sure a lot of you do as well. And although it is very annoying and we do not like having them it is a part of life and everyone goes through it. That doesn't mean that we don't want to speed up the process of getting rid of them though.

Here are some simple tips that I hope will help you.

Tip #1
Wash your face everyday at least at night time, but preferably twice

• Wash it in the morning
• Wash it at night before going to sleep

You want to wash it so your pores do not get clogged. During the day oil, dirt, makeup, and pollution build up on your skin. You do not want to go to bed with all of that there. It can irritate your skin.

Tip #2
Try not to touch your face a lot

• Refrain from putting your hands on your face. Your hands naturally have oil and you do not want to add any more oil or dirt to your face. Also think about all of the things you touch throughout the day (and that other people have touched them to). Hands harbor germs.

Tip #3
Drink water

•  Water has so many benefits and can help keep your skin clear

Tip #4
Work on eating healthier

• You are what you eat and the outside of you reflects the inside of you and your overall health and well being

Tip #5
Talk to your doctor

• If you think you have severe acne you can talk to your doctor about it and they may prescribe you something or refer you to a dermatologist.

I hope that you find these tips helpful! Feel free to let me know in the comments.
Thank you for reading
-Emily

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London, Paris & Amsterdam-Oh My! Part 2

Hi guys,

         Here is the second post about my trip to Europe for spring break. After England our next stop was  France. We took the Eurostar from St. Pancreas to Paris. This train goes under the English Channel and I think the journey was around 2 hours. Once we got to the station in Paris we walked to where our coach was supposed to pick us up. We were waiting on the side of the road where about 10 buses were waiting but none of them was ours. After waiting a while our tour director called the company to see what was going on, they then contacted the driver who said they would be there soon. We waited another 20 minutes and still no bus. Meanwhile the thirty of us were standing in the sun with all of our luggage in not the best part of the city, there was a bit of a smell, trash and graffiti everywhere, not what you picture when you think of Paris. ( I had been to Paris on my previous trip to Europe so I was not as startled by what we saw, for some people though it was their first impression of Paris and it was not nearly as glamorous as they were expecting.) The bus finally arrived after we had been waiting an hour and then the driver was not even going to help load the luggage onto the bus. Our Paris guide had met us while waiting for the bus and she said that had never happened before, she was as annoyed as we were. 

          We then had our bus tour of the city and stopped at a few places to take pictures including the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tour before going to the hotel to drop off our things. While in Paris we visited the areas of Montmarte, and the Latin Quarter. We really liked Place Saint-Michel which is in the Latin Quarter. We got some very delicious Nutella and strawberry crepes there and found some very cute and unique shops there and also found a nice bakery where

we bought some maccarons (of course, because we're basic, but I

mean they are really good so how could we go to Paris and not get any).

I went to Laduree my first time in Paris

A display in the Laduree Bakery

One of the magnificent pastries we got

         We walked along the Seine and the Champs-Élysées. Went into the Notre Dame Cathedral and later to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica which is located on a hill in Montmartre. There is a beautiful view of the city from here but you do have to work for it. There are a lot of steps to get to the basilica. We then had some free time walked around the area behind the basilica which is known for being an artist area. Some people got their portraits drawn. 

          Later our whole group met up to go to the restaurant where we were having dinner. We had boeuf bourguignon (always reminds me of Julia Child when I hear the name of that dish) which I had never had before. It was served over pasta so that made me very happy. And we also had some red wine along with it. Some people in our group we very big fans of that beverage and literally consumed every last drop. There was some left in my glass that I was not going to drink and they (who were sitting at another table) looked at our table and saw who still had wine and then asked us if they could have it if we were not going to. So they ended up finishing almost everyone's wine, at least it didn't go to waste so that was good. 
           Some people went up the Eiffel tower and then on a river

cruise on the Seine. I had done so before and opted not to on this trip. One of my friends wasn't interested in doing those things either and so we explored while our other friend went up the tower. She was not going on the cruise and we did not want her to have to get back to the hotel alone especially since it was night time. We walked around and then went back to the tower around when we thought she'd be down but she was not. Other people from our group had come down but our friend was no where in sight. There was a race happening where people were climbing the stairs of the tower and there was  newscaster so we had some extra entertainment while waiting under the tower. We had gotten a bit worried about not finding our friends but then finally located her. There had been a lot of people up in the tower that wanted to come down and only a certain number of people can fit in the elevators at once. 
          The last time I was in Paris my mom, sister, and I had the hardest time locating the metro stop near the Eiffel Tower. You would think that it would be noticeable and that there was a nice sign but it is quite the contrary actually. I hadn't remembered where it was since I was only there once years ago and so my friends and I had the same issue of finding it. We were walking around for at least half an hour. We finally saw it but the problem was that it was across the street. Well, across more of a highway that we could not walk across. We could also not continue walking where we were because that would have just brought us farther from the metro. We saw a passageway that looked like it went under the highway and allowed you to get to the other side. And an important fact may be that it was after 11pm and that we were just 3 American girls in another country. Our choices we to either walk back half an hour to the Tower and get to the metro that way or use the underground passage. Neither option was very appealing to us, we were tired and annoyed and just wanted to get back to the hotel. So what did we do? We chose to use the passage, our thinking was that it couldn't be too long and the metro was right there and we just wanted to get there asap, we were a bit scared to use the passage but not as scared as we probably should have been. We hadn't thought about how the passage could have been dark, filled with rats, have homeless people in it, have someone waiting with a knife to mug people or any other unpleasant situation. Our judgment was not the best at the time.

        During our time in France we also went to the Palace of Versailles. Walking up to it is amazing and then looking down the road from the front of it also gives you such a feeling.

Standing with the palace at your back this is the view you see down the street

I can't really explain it. It is absolutely breathtaking inside and out.

           I liked that we had a specific tour guide who brought us through the Palace and gave context and more in depth information about what we were seeing. It was also cool that in my fashion history class we had just been learning about the time period when Versailles inhabited by Marie Antoinette and Louis XIV.

         It was so surreal being there and thinking about the royalty who lived there and who stood where I am and walked where I walked. You really do step back in time and in history and it's so cool to see firsthand what you've learned in class and in your textbooks. The Hall of Mirrors is probably the most famous room and it does not disappoint. I also love the outside area in back which overlooks the garden. Both times I have been there, there wasn't enough time to walk around outside as I would have liked.  

   Another tourist trap we went to was the Louvre.

        Walking to the Louvre is great on its own. You go right through the center and see the Jardin des Tuileries, Place de la Concorde and ferris wheel, the Luxor Obelisk, everything but we were in a rush so we weren't able to take too many pictures.

      We went in the side entrance to the museum and through the

mall before ending up in the lobby under the new entrance designed by I.M. Pei, the glass pyramid. In the Louvre we saw the Mona Lisa of course, many statues including Winged Victory, and other sculptures and paintings as well. We had to move quickly through it though as we had a schedule to

keep. The one issue though was that workers were having a strike and so the bathrooms, which had been very nice and clean the last time I was there were pretty disgusting this time. 

         

      We also found a mall, of course and one of my friends and I hung out there and other people walked around it as well while half the group went up a skyscraper for a view of the city. My friend ended up finding a Long Champ bag that she really liked and it was on sale! Checking out was set up differently, she had to take a ticket on the bag to a certain counter and then come bag to the Long Champ area where the sales associate had the bag, looked at the paper my friend got from the other paper after paying and then wrapped up the bag for my friend. It was a system I never saw before (and probably am not explaining too clearly but it worked out well). 
       And this is really random but I didn't want to forget it. I was reminded since it happened to myself and my friend who bought the bag. When we were in Saint-Michel and walking around a lot of people stand outside their restaurants and try to entice people to come in and eat and so they say Hi and start talking to you, and they would always start talking Spanish to my friend and I although neither of us are Spanish. I guess to them we looked it though? I'm not quite sure, it was kind of funny. Anyways, that was what happened while in France. Keep an eye out for my next post where I will be talking about our adventures in Amsterdam!

-Emily
   

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