There's more to France than Paris

Yesterday, the Paris area saw some of the worst air pollution... ever. At least that's what the news articles keep saying, and judging by the visible haze suspended in the sky, obscuring trees and buildings, I gotta believe them. It didn't stop me from having a lovely little walk through a village outside of Paris, however. Villennes-Sur-Seine, complete with weeping willows over a river, adorable stone houses, and a charming garden on the side of a hill. The atmosphere felt pleasantly warm, thick, and cozy, probably enhanced by the dense smog in the air.

I wouldn't have made the trek out there if it weren't for some official business to take care of - I was picking up some official translations of documents needed to apply for a residence card. I'm glad I did go, because it made me realize that there's more to see here than Paris... small villages and towns with medieval churches, ivy-covered walls, small, quiet streets, quaint cafes, and stone fountains. This short afternoon trek has inspired me to branch outward, see what lies outside of the Paris grandeur.

Here are just a few things I noticed while waiting for the next train back home:











On my first trip to France with my mother during high school, we visited smaller towns and chateaus in wine country, and I have the desire to revisit many of those places - Chartres with it's amazing gothic cathedral, Mont Saint Michel surrounded by water, Rouen with its colourful timbered buildings...

Once spring is in full bloom, the first thing on my to-see list is Monet's house and gardens at Giverny. Can't wait!



Instagram // Pinterest // Bloglovin // Society6

Pretty Handmade Jewelry

Hey there! The last few weeks I've been really busy with school, and my blogging has really been sparse. But I'm back with another Handmade Stuff feature! This time I'm featuring some unique jewelry from some creative Etsy artists. Enjoy!


Sources:1/2/3/4

{ONE}
If you haven't heard of White Owl's stunning and delicate lace jewelry yet, the time is now. The way they use each piece of lace is so creative! You MUST check out their shop, I wanted to add every single one of their pieces to my favorites.

{TWO}
There are three things I love about this bracelet: the combination of gold and jade green, the combining of different textures, and the tiny bell - which probably sounds like a fairy has come to play every time you move your arm. For an Etsy shop, BrassLady has A TON, and I mean A LOT, of items up for sale. And to put the cherry on top, everything is priced really well.

{THREE}
I find this necklace rather unique. It is a chevron shape, but unlike most other chevron necklaces out there, which are very straight-edged and geometric, FriedaSophie's is made of natural-looking, rough-edged beads. Plus, the colors are amazing.

{FOUR}
What more can be said about embroidered jewelry?! It's so pretty, it doesn't need explaining. Visit Abbey Vanderlin's shop!

That's all this month! Please visit their shops and show them some love by favoriting, buying, or pinning their items! Let's help support the handmade community.

Huntington Gardens

It is time to beautify this blog! I visited Huntington Library & Gardens near Pasadena a couple weeks ago. For the ticket price, you not only get to roam wistfully around the themed gardens, surrounded by statues, you also get to go inside the old Huntington mansion/Art Museum as well as an old library where you can see extremely old books and even a Gutenberg Bible from 1455! If you're going to be nearby (when gardens typically are in bloom), you MUST go. Plus, they have a stellar gift shop. Being there makes me feel like I'm in an older, grander part of the country. It is harder to come by places like this on the west coast, so when I find them, I savor them.

Here are some shots of the gardens and beautiful statues.