Monday, November 30, 2020

The Top 10 Instagram Worthy Spots in Paris

Paris is the ultimate blogging and Instagram destination for anybody who appreciates beautiful scenery and amazing history! Plus let's not forget the fashion. I have put together this guide based on my time in Paris to help you get those amazing shots that will seriously improve your insta-game whether you are just traveling for fun or you want to post your adventures on your blog! 

1. The Louvre

 The Pyramid is an obvious choice for a great photo spot, but don’t forget the gorgeous  building itself. The Louvre may not be recognizable to all in this shot, but the amazing architecture still gave me a dreamy backdrop. You may want to stroll over and snap a few around the landscaping of The Carrousel Garden and The Tuileries too. 



Best time of day for photos:  The Louvre Pyramid with its lights is a bit more spectacular at dawn or dusk. It’s true, the Pyramid and the whole place is gorgeous any time of day, but early in the morning and after sunset, there will be fewer tourists to contend with. Also try a Tuesday since museums in Paris are closed. 


2. Palais Royal

How often can you say architecture inspired your look? The Palais Royal will give you so many options for poses and angles. Plus the resulting photos will pretty much all look like magazine covers.  

 

Best time of day for photos… going to have to go with as early as possible again. 




3. Eiffel Tower

This pink dress and the Eiffel Tower had me feeling like I was in a dream. What can you say about one of the most Insta-worthy places on Earth? Every angle and perspective is going to give you an opportunity for a great photo. Try shooting from Rue de l’Université for a great view. 

 

Best time of day. Seriouly any. But experimenting with different times of day and different types of weather/light is worthwhile if you have the time and opportunity. 



4. Place du Trocadero

 

Place du Trocadero gave me an amazing vantage point to get the Eiffel Tower over my shoulder. I could have taken in this view all day. The Trocadero is an area of Paris across the Siene from the Eiffel Tower. It’s about a 5 minute walk that is well worth it. Head to the stairs. 

 

That last hour before sunset or dawn will provide some great light. If you have the camera skills, try a few just after sunset as well. 

 



6. Hotel Plaza Athenee

 

My inner Audrey came out to play at the Hotel Plaza Athenee. The Eiffel Tower in the distance paired with a gorgeous balcony overlooking the fashionable Avenue Montaigne will have you living all the Devil Wears Prada dreams. You don’t have to be staying at this 5-star beauty to get a great shot. The outside is stunning enough to provide great photo ops. But the inside… the staircase, the breakfast room, the courtyard. There are almost no words to describe them. They are all breathtaking and will provide never-ending elegant backdrops. There are some suites with Eiffel Tower views that are unrivaled. 

 

Any time of day, but the light in the early morning and just before dusk is beautiful. Also, if you happen to get to stay in the winter there will be ice skating in the courtyard and lights twinkling if you get out there just before the sun goes down. 



7. Arc de Triomphe

No Paris photo tour is complete without a stop at the spectacular Arc de Triomphe. This massive structure is of course most identifiable from a bit of a distance as shown here, but I would recommend getting closer for some more creative shots as well. 

 

Any time of day, but you’ll have fewer people milling around at sunrise. 



8. Musee D'Orsay

Musée d'Orsay in the center of Paris on the banks of the Siene is the home of one tres Instagrammable clock. Go directly to the fifth floor to take a look at Paris through the clock. When you’re done gazing, it’s another fantastic spot to stop and pose. 

 

 

Early again! And head straight for the clock! 




9. Sacre Couer 

The view of Paris from the steps is breathtaking. There are so many picturesque views at Sacre Coeur, you’re going to want to try them all. From down by the carousel, to the top of the bascilica, I was literally surrounded by photo ops. Don’t forget your trick shot of the “sinking” house. 

 

Early, early, early. Or late… the lights of Paris just before dusk are gorgeous.  



 This most popular of all of the avenues in Paris is one with so many possibilities. If you can’t beat the heavy traffic, try to feature it in your background as part of the scene. Everywhere you look is another opportunity. 

 

You can try to shoot early, but the lights just before the sun goes down can be beautiful too.  


Where is your favorite spot in Paris to get amazing pictures? Have you visited any of these places? Tell me in the comments below!  

Saturday, November 28, 2020

Girls Weeknd Guide: My 22nd Birthday In Las Vegas

 I'm feelin 22! And this year for my birthday I decided to celebrate in Las Vegas where the party goes on all weekend long! Check out the link to this video of my stay at the Paris hotel in Las Vegas to see some of the highlights. 

I have written up some of my favorite spots from the weekend for you guys as a guide to the best places to celebrate in Las Vegas! Some of these places are great for a girls weekend or just a relaxing getaway too! Let me know if you have been to any of these places in the comments! I also included my styles for each day and night to give you some packing inspo for your next trip. Basically the only style tip you need to remember for Vegas is: Sequins are always in! 




Day 1: on my first day in town I arrived in the afternoon and checking into my hotel the Paris Las Vegas. I love this hotel because I enjoy all things french of course but also for the location! It was the perfect home base for my birthday weekend and has a great spot right on the strip. The hotel is super fun to stay at and honestly I could spend an entire weekend just exploring the property! To start with there is the Eiffel tower attraction complete with a delicious french restaurant on the third floor just like the real Eiffel tower in France! You  also can't miss the "Village Shops" a row of eateries and souvenir stores set on a very authentic recreation of a Parisian boulevard complete with cobblestone streets! My favorite place to grab a midday snack here is the Crepe store where you can order authentic French breakfast crepes made to order or some delicious sweet dessert crepes. After checking in, I headed over to the Fashion Show Mall where I did some birthday shopping and got a free gift box full of coupons and birthday goodies like a confetti shooter and colorful candles! I would definitely recommend stopping by because the fashion show mall is worth seeing while you are in town and the birthday box is a fun bonus if you are spending your special day in Vegas! 
Afterwards I headed off the strip for dinner to my favorite restaurant in Las Vegas called the... located in the Gold Coast Casino. This place serves the best prime rib and for my birthday they even gave me a special chocolate espresso cake for dessert which was to die for! If you love classic American cuisine this is the place you have to visit! 
Finally I finished my night with a drink on the strip from Gustav's bar back at the Paris enjoying the lights and amazing views of the city. 

My looks for Day 1
This was my casual outfit for shopping at the mall. I love this silver sequin skirt for a fun statement piece! 

Day 2: For my second day in town I did some more exploring of the Paris hotel and found this fun insta wall in the lobby for taking pictures! Then I headed over to the casino floor for a craps lesson. Here is a Vegas tip for you if you're over 21, if you go down to the casino floor early in the morning between 9-10am they sometimes offer free table lessons which can be a fun way to learn about the different types of games played in the casinos! After a relaxing morning I headed out to high tea at the Waldorf Astoria across the street from the Paris. This high tea comes with some stunning views as well because it is located at the top of the WA in the skybar lounge. This was a super fun birthday activity and a great excuse to get dressed up too! I loved the fancy tea cakes and they even brought me a glass of champagne for my birthday! 

After tea I walked back through the Crystal Shops to the Bellagio hotel. The Bellagio is a beautiful hotel with tons of amazing spots to explore but my favorite area is their botanical garden. Each season they change out the design and have a new theme for guests to enjoy. They build elaborate flower displays and sometimes they even move! It is something you can only find in Vegas and definitely worth visiting! This year's theme was Autumn Woods and they had the most beautiful little fairy house displays! 
 
Finally for my birthday dinner I headed over to Giada at the Cromwell. I was so excited to try this Italian restaurant by celebrity Chef Giada, and the food did not disappoint! Although the best part was the amazing views of the strip from the restaurant windows. You can even see the Bellagio's famous water fountain show from some tables!
I finished off my night at the Cosmopolitan hotel's Chandelier bar where I ordered an amazing Peach martini that honestly tasted like Peach ring candy! It was such a fun birthday experience and I loved the sparkly chandelier backdrop! 
My Day 2 Looks
I loved this gold sequin dress for my birthday look! It is a tea length dress which was perfect for my afternoon tea in the sky! I did my make up extra sparkly too for Vegas style and finished off using this golden Shiseido lipgloss which went perfectly with my outfit! 
  

  

Day 3: For my final day in Vegas I headed over to the Premium Outlets in the north end of the city. You know I can't pass up a good shopping opportunity and these outlets have some of the best name brands  and amazing prices! Some of my favorite stores where you can find some steals are Armani, Jimmy Choo, Saks Off Fifth and much more! I would recommend making this stop on your last day in town since it is a little out of the way but it is definitely worth it! 

My shopping day look
I loved wearing this sparkly purple Shiseido lipgloss to match my sweater and finishd off with a touch of sparkle wearing this tassle necklace from Kollectin.